INSPIRATION AND ADVICE

HOW WE DO: CARDIGANS

By Lakeisha Goedluck, October 31, 2017

As soon as autumn hits, the rush to find suitable threads to layer up with is on. But between hoodies, transitional jackets and overshirts under overcoats, the humble cardigan is often forgotten. At ASOS HQ, however, the guys are fully backing the essential knitted number – so, take a look at how they’re wearing theirs for AW17.

Standout stripes

As is customary with knitwear, the warp and weft of cardigans often incorporate unusual colour combos and powerful patterns. So, capitalise on the statement capacity of your button-through and make it the focal point of your outfit, like this lime green-yellow take on the classic varsity knit.

Culture writer Sam lets his cardi do the talking with a plain black T-shirt and jeans underneath, but adds in a pair of trainers a shade or two lighter for a subtle switch-up. The tonal variation keeps the rest of the look interesting without drawing attention away from the vibrancy of the key piece.

Vertical vibes

At this time of year, a traditional off-white cardigan never goes amiss. Make like Looped’s junior editor Nic and go for an updated take on an old-school cut for a fresh autumnal ’fit.

Opting for a staple white tee ensures the subtle patterning on Nic's knit stays prominent. Dark-washed blue jeans add a classic contrast to the timeless top half – while extra points come from matching the cardigan buttons to your shoes, or the pinstriping to the colours of your T-shirt logo.

Nan knits on acid

Don’t listen to the naysayers – there’s currently a lot of hype for retro knits. Get your gran on the case and sort yourself a cardigan with an in-your-face pattern to really step up your style this season.

Follow in the footsteps of artworker Nawal and keep the rest of your ensemble minimal. A crew-neck white top, trews in the same shade as the detailing on your cardigan and laid-back creps should do the trick.

Tone it down

If you’re stuck for layering inspiration, a neat navy cardigan sans decoration is a solid choice. Then, couple with a complementary pale blue sweatshirt underneath in a similarly unadorned style for some tonal colour-blocking, as senior editor Matt does here.

Pictures: ASOS

Stay true to blue with your bottom half and wear a pair of on-trend cord wide-leg trousers with a sporty side stripe. Monochrome kicks are the way to go for rounding off a one-colour-heavy look like this.